Order of Exercises

Madeleine Albright

Former U.S. Secretary of State Chair, Albright Stonebridge Group; Chair, Albright Capital Management

Madeleine K. Albright, who earned a degree from SIPA and a PhD from Columbia, is a professor, author, diplomat, and businesswoman who served as the United States’ secretary of state from January 1997 to January 2001. As the first female secretary of state, Albright became, at that time, the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Albright served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and was a member of the president’s cabinet.

She is a professor in the practice of diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm; and chair of Albright Capital Management, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. She also chairs the National Democratic Institute, serves as the president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation and is honorary chair of the World Refugee & Migration Council. In 2012, she was chosen by President Obama to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in recognition of her contributions to international peace and democracy.

Albright is a seven-time New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent book, Hell and Other Destinations, was published in April 2020. Her other books include her autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir (2003); The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs (2006); Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership (2008); Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box (2009); Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948 (2012), and Fascism: A Warning (2018).

Eric Holder

Former U.S. Attorney General Partner, Covington & Burling LLP

Eric Holder served as attorney general of the United States from February 2009 to April 2015. The third longest serving attorney general in U.S. history and the first African American to hold that office, Holder is an internationally recognized leader across a broad range of regulatory enforcement, criminal justice, and national security issues. In 2014, Time magazine named Holder to its list of 100 Most Influential People, noting that he had “worked tirelessly to ensure equal justice.” Including his tenure as attorney general, Holder served in government for more than thirty years, having been appointed to various senior positions by Presidents Obama, Clinton and Reagan.

Holder rejoined Covington & Burling after his six years of service as attorney general; he had previously been a partner at the firm from 2001 to 2009. He advises clients on complex investigations and litigation matters, including those that are international in scope and involve significant regulatory enforcement issues and substantial reputational concerns. Before becoming attorney general, Holder maintained a wide-ranging investigations and litigation practice at Covington. Among numerous significant engagements, he led the firm’s representation of a major multinational agricultural company in related civil, criminal, and investigative matters; acted as counsel to a special investigative committee of the board of directors of a Fortune 50 technology company; successfully tried a complex discrimination lawsuit on behalf of a leading financial services company; and represented several life sciences companies in litigation and investigations.

Holder is a graduate of both Columbia College and Columbia Law School.